Panel construction.



H. C. BUMPUS.

PANEL UONSTRUUTIN.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 23. 190s.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

mlmiw B, au!" co Iwuu'muewnnms, WASHINGTON u C H. C. BUMPUS.

PANEL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLIGATIDN MLM APR. 2a. 1909.

952,506. Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

HERMON CAREY BUMPUS, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

PANEL CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

Application tiled April 23, 1909. Serial No. 491,741.

To all whom 'it may concern.:

Be it; known that l, lIanMoN CAREY BUM- rUs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New Rochelle, in the county of lVestcheste' and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Panel Construction, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of panels or sides for miscellaneous structures and has for its object the provision of panel members which, in respect to their margins, shall be so arranged that any panel member of a given set may make a proper mar inal joint with any other panel mem er.

My invention is especially intended to facilitate the complete and finished construction of the parts of miscellaneous structures in such manner that'. they ma i be easily assembled without the aid of specially skilled labor and yet present, when completed by assemblage, a structure which will not only be substantial but possess also elegance of finish.

The invention is, moreover, a plicable to a large iniscellany of objects; lilie chests or boxes, show cases, partitions, screens, all of which may be composed of individual panel units each of which expresses the invention and improvements herein described.

In the drawings hereto annexed,-Figure 1 represents in cross section two panel units marginally joined and secured together in planes at right angles; Fig. 2 shows in cross section two members or units each identical in construction with those shown in Fig. 1 but so joined as to form a continuation one with the other in the same plane; Fig. 3 is a cross section similar in general arrangement to that shown in Fig. 1 which illustrates, however, a preferred inode of fastening members or units and also the provision of a packing strip; Fig. 4 illustrates in perspective view a corner of a case composed of members or units such as illustrated more in detail in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a View in detail of a packinIg strip such as shown in cross section in tig. 3; Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a clip or binder suitable for securing the members or units where they form a corner such as shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of a cli or binding member such as illustrated in igs. 3 and 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the panel pieces are illustrated at 5. These may be sheets of glass, of wood, of metal, or whatever material is considered suitable to constitute the main body of the panel junit. The panel piecesl 5 are each provided with margin pieces (i, these may be secured to the panel pieces 5 in any suitable manner, the preferable inode being to groove the margin pieces and insert the edges of the panel pieces in these grooves either with oi without packing or adhesive material as the situation may demand. The margin pieces are essentially similar in cross section; that is to say, the meeting faces of these margin pieces extend longitudinally and are so proportioned that any two margin pieces, such as G, will, upon being brought into juxtaposition, make joint when the two meeting faces 4 are placed together. These similarly disposed joint faces are preferably in planes at an angle of 45C to the plane of the panel piece, so that each such margin piece may make a initer joint with a simi ar margin piece. In order to secure two such margin pieces in their joint-relation, binding members are rovided which, in the illustration shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consist of bolts marked 1.1, whereof the head at one end and the nut at the other are countersunk in recesses at 3 so as not to protrude unduly above the surfaces of the finished structure.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the panel pieces 5 equipped with margin pieces G which are similarly longitudinally beveled at, an angle of 450 with the plane of the panel piece, may readily be secured together so that one forms a continuous extension of the other, both panels being in substantially the same plane. The two margin pieces G are placed with their beveled faces 4 in juxtaposition to forni the joint, and the binding members, such as the bolts 11, are applied as before to secure the mar in pieces together. Thus such structura units, composed each of a panel piece and margin pieces, may be employed to build a box or case of such length, height or other dimension that some o 'the juxtaposed units are secured together to forni extensions in one plane and form sides of the structure, while others are secured at the edges in the usual angular relation. Or a succession of such units may be assembled to make either a permanent or temporary partition for a room, the interchangeability of the margin pieces enabling corners to be turned where it may be convenient.

ln preparing units of the general character above described, to be assembled in the form otI boxes or eases, I prefer so to arrange the eomjionent partsthat the binding members whereit'itli the units are 'fastened in their joint-making position, shall be entirely external to the units themselves and again, l prefer to employ suitably shaped resilient metal clips to perform the otiice or function of binding members.

In Fig. 3 there are shown in cross section the margin pieces aml portions of the panel pieces of two such units, and in Fig. -l there is illustrated on a smaller scale the arrangement of three adjacent sides of a structure soromposed. As before, the panel pieces which constitute the major portion of the walls of the completed structure, are represented by the plates 5 which are let into longitmlinal slots in the margin pieces C. Should this mode of construction be adopted for the formation of a glass case such as a show ease or one for exhibiting specimens in a museum, the panel pieces 5 will be composed of plate glass and the joint between the glass plate and the margin piece t3 should be provided with a packing strip or lining of felt or other dustproot material, as shown at T.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the margin pieces (i are beveled at an angle of 150 to the plane of the panel piece 5 and are in all essential features of structure and proportion identical so that when placed in juxtaposition, as illustrated in Fig. 3, they form a proper right angled joint. As one use to which such structures are intended is the erection of show cases, whereof the function is to preserve the contents against deleterious external ettects, such as the deposition of dust., l provide, as shown in Fig. 3, a longitudinal recess for a packing strip, which rccess is formed by the opposition of grooves or channels in the jointJ surfaces 4t of the margin pieces (3. These grooves or channels and the longitudinal recess formed thereby are shown at S in Fig. 3. When the, two margin pieces t3 are placed in juxtaposition there is first laid in one of the grooves or channels at 8 a dustproof packing strip. This, as shown in Fig. 5, consists of a tube of felt or similar dustproof material formed a sleeve around a helical spring, the spring being shown at 9 and the felt at 10. The said packing strip is circular in section and of such dimensions that when the two margin pieces are laid together With the strip in the recess at 8, the surfaces of the margin pieces shall bind upon and sli htly compress the felt 10 and thus make a ustproof joint which, however, is safticiently porous and open to the passage of air as to constitute not only a dustproof but a respiratory joint which will allow for changes in atmospheri(I pressure as between the inside and outside of a` case constructed as described. The provision of a rei-ess tor sueh a parking strip which is polygonal in cross section when the margin pieces are assembled, in conjunction with a` packing strip of ditferent cross sectional shape, eti'eetmilly guards against the accidental inclusion between the joint surfaces l of any portion of the packing strip, so that the presence of the packing strip cannot interfere with the proper formation of a joint by the margin pieces.

W'hen the margin pieces with their respiratory packing strip are placed together as shown in Fig. 3, they are secured in their joint-making position by means of binding members 11 which in general perform the same function as the bolts shown at 11 in Figs. l and ln the specitie instance shown in Fig. 3, however, the binding member lt consists otl a resilient metal clip preferably composed of spring steel and shaped to tit around the juxtaposed margin pieces G and to hook over the corners thereof with the inwardly turned hanges 13. These clips can readily be spread open to a sutlicient extent to enable the person assembling the Various units to slip them over the juxtaposed margin pieces (l, and when the binding members are released they snap into place with the [langes 13 closely embracing tht` margin pieces t3.

The joinder of three adjacent panel units may be effected conveniently and economically by the employment cf corner clips such as shown at 12 in Fig. 4 and in detail in Fig. C. This corner clip 12 is constructed on the same principle as the clip 11 shown in detail in Fig. 7 ditlering therefrom in shape to conform to and cover the corner of the case. This corner clip 1Q has inwardly turned flanges at 13a to engage the inner edges of the six juxtaposed margin strips as shown in Fig. t, and is slitted, as at 13b, to produce the necessary degree of resiliency.

By the employment of the improvements above described, accurately made and eleganthr finished cases, chests, and the like may be constructed in a properly appointed factory, there assembled, if need be, for purposes of inspection, then easily and readily taken down, packed flat and shipped to the purchaser who will require only ordinai-ily skilled assistance to assemble and set up the finished structure.

lVliat I claim is:

1. The combination of a panel piece and a margin piece, the two pieces secured together, the margin ieee having a longitudinally extendin ace adapted to make joint with a simiar mar in piece, and provided also with structura features suited to the engagement of binding members Whereby to be secured to a similar margin pieve Wlierewitli it makes joint.

E2. The combination of a panel piece and a margin piece, the two pieces secured together, the margin piece having a longitudinally extending beveled faee adapted to make joint with a similar beveled margin pieee. and provided also with structural features suited to Jthe engagement, of binding members whereby to be secured to a similar margin piece wlierevvitli it makes joint.

3. rl`he eombination of panel pieces, eaeh marginally secured to a margin pieee. the said margin pieces having siii'illarly disposed longitudinally extending faces wliieli make joint and removable binding members seein-ing the Said margin pieces in jointmaking position.

Lt. The eombination of panel pieces. eaeh marginally seeured to a n'iargiii piece, the said margin pieees having similarly disposed longitudinally extending beveled faees whieh make joint, and removable l'iinding members securing the said margin pieees in joint-making position.

5. The eombination of a panel pieee and a margin pieee7 getlier. the niai'gin piece having a loiigitiidinally extending forty-tive-degree-beveled fat-e adapted to make joint with a similar forty-tive-degree-beveled margin pieee, and

provided also with structural features suited to the engagen'ient of binding members whereby to be seenred to a similar margin pieee Wherewith it makes joint.

t5. The combination of panel pieces7 eaeh marginally secured to a margin piece, the said margin pieces having similarly disposed longitudinally extending forty-fivedegree-beveled faces which make joint, and removable binding members seeuring the said margin pieces in joint-making position.

T. '.lhe combination of panel pieces. eaeli marginally secured to a margin pieee. said margin pieces identical in eross section and provided eaeh with a longitudinally extending face, said fares making joint, and removable binding members seeuring said margin pieces in joint-makiiig position.

8. The combination of panel pieces, e-.irh marginally Secured to a margin pieee. said margin pieees identical 'in cross seetion and provided eaeh with a longitudinally extending beveled face, said faees making joint, and removable binding members securing said margin pieces in joint-nial-:ing position.

the two pieces seeiired toi marginally serured to a margin piet-e. said margin pieees having similarly disposed loi'igitndinally i'oi'ty-tive-degree-lieveled extending faees which maki` joint. and removable binding elips ivliirh embrm'e the margin pieees and seeure them in joint-making position.

l. The eomliination of panel pieees earh marginally seriired to :i margin pieee1 tlu` said margin pierres having similarly disposed longitudinally extending 'l'ares wliirh make joint and wherein similarly plaeed longitudinal reeesses to ronstitute are formed when mutually opposed :i lodgment for :i

packing strip.

la. The combination ot panel pieees eaeli marginally secured to a margin pieee, the said margin piece having similarly disposed j longitudinally extendingbeveled fares whii-h similarly plaeed formed to eonstilodginelit for make joint and wherein longitudinal recesses are tute when mutually opposed a a pai-king strip.

l5. The Combination of panel pieces eai'li marginally seiured to a` margin pieve. the said margin piei'es having similarly disposed longitudinally extending t'orty-tive-degreebeveled faees which make joint and wherein similarly placed longitudinal reeesses are formed. to constitute when mutually op posed a lodgment for a parking strip.

lli. The eombination of panel pieees eaih marginally seeured to a margin piere. said margin pieees identieal in eross sertion and provided eaeii with a longitudinally extending face with a longitudinal reress therein.` said faees making joint.. and removable binding members securing said margin pieees in j joint-making position.

1T. The eombination of panel pieees eaeh l marginally seeiired to a margin piero. said t margin piet-es identieal in eross section and 'l provided nach with :i longitui'linally extending beveled faee with a longitudinal reress l therein. said faees making joint, and removable binding members securing said margin pieces in joint-making position.

18. The eombination of panel pieces eaeli marginally seenred to a margin pieve identieal in rross sei-tion and provided rai-li with a longitudinally extending foi'ty-fivefleg1'ee l liei'eled Vface with zi longitmlinal recess therein. said faces making' lioint. and removable bindingmembers securing' said margin pieces in joint-making position.

lil. The combination of panel pieces cach marginally secured to a margin piece, said margin pieces havingsimilarly disposed longilmlinally extending' Jfaces which make joint and wherein similarlliiY placed longitndinal recesses are formed. and a psu-kim.r strip in the .space formed by the opposed. longitudinal recesses.

20. The combination of panel pieces eaeli marginally secured to a margin piece. said nnxrgii'i pieces havingl similarly disposed longitudinally beveled extending faces which make joint and wherein similarly placed| marginally secured l lonv'itudinally loiigitndinal recesses are formed. and a packing strip in the space formed by the opposed longitudinal recesses.

21. The combination of panel pieces each to a margin piece, said having similarly disposed forty-ve-degree-beveled extending' faces which make joint and wherein similarlyY placed longitudinal recesses are formed, and a packing' strip in the space formed by the opposed longitudinal recesses.

Signed by me at New York city in the State of New York this ninth day of A\pril 1909.

margln pieces IIEHUON litnessesr (nomaa HAU,

Amixmnm: (l. VVALKI'XR.

(lRICY BUMPUS. 

